Pioneer-Venus visible-light image, and Magellan radar view of Venus

This image displays Earth's inner neighbour, Venus, displayed in two different views. The Venus on the right was obtained in the visible wavelengths of the electromagnetic spectrum by Pioneer Venus in 1978. On the left, we can see the surface of the atmosphere-shrouded planet 'seen' at the radar wavelengths of the Magellan mission in 1996. The planet's thick atmospheric prevents any direct imaging of the surface. Only at radar or infrared wavelengths can information about the topography or temperature of the surface of Venus be retrieved.